And it's not just phone calls. In Africa, cellphones are the main means of accessing the Internet and not computers. It might be different in South Africa as levels of personal computer ownership could be higher, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same as the rest of the continent in that regard.

Always amuses me seeing people with their huge tablets making phone calls or taking photos. But yes, cellphones are used for a lot more than just making calls.

I know how to beat those sensors, but I maybe shouldn't mention how to do it in a public forum. Although I did get it from MythBusters, so it's not like it's some major secret.

The reason that I know is that at one point our alarm was faulty and wouldn't turn off and we needed to get into a room with a heat sensor. So I tried this method out, thinking that it wouldn't actually work, but it did.

Sorry to hear about the bad news Jean P. Hope you are covered by insurance although even if you are one normally still loses out by a good couple of rands. Also hope that the data on the laptop and tablet wasn't too sensitive and/or has been backed up somewhere?

Not a pleasant experience and hopefully one that you and the family will quickly recover from.